a little applique

our little friend had a birthday a few weeks ago so i thought i’d make a little something special for her. i’ve been playing around with appliqués … lots of monogram shirts have been made lately … but this time i went a step further with a true design and some layers. i’d love to figure out how to stitch around the details, but i’m not quite that skilled on a sewing machine.

30th birthday

my best friend celebrated her 30th birthday last weekend. her husband wanted to throw her a surprise party {oh how they just LOVE surprises}, but since they are currently living with us, and i am horrible at keeping surprises {oh how i just DESPISE surprises!}, we opted for a party that she knew about. it was great to have some friends over for delicious appetizers, the always amazing costco carrot cake {i’m a firm believer in homemade desserts, but seriously, this cake is the best}, no kids and gorgeous summer weather.

the invitation was fun to create. her favorite color is green, so i went with a few shades of that. i do love glitter and it was a nice {if not laborious} detail.

happy birthday my friend!

master bedroom

our master bedroom is a work in progress. it is somewhat put together, but needs the finishing touches and details that will really make it feel like a cozy, romantic, peaceful spot. we don’t use our room for much more than sleeping, but i do love sleeping and therefore, love being in this room.

i went with a color palatte of grey, white, black, oatmeal, mustard, silver & of course, a little bit of linen {is that too many colors for one room?}

our bed was one of our first purchases when we moved from a 900 square foot home to this larger one. it is king size and A.MA.ZING. i'm pretty sure i sigh every night when i get in.

i bought these bedside tables for my love on his birthday {sweet gift, huh?} and the lamps are from restoration hardware. they are huge and shiny and i love them. and they are dimmer ones, so i appreciate that. i removed my glass of water from the table before photographing, but that is a mainstay. i have to have water at bedtime. sometimes we can’t find our big glasses and then discover that i have 5 on my night stand. apparently, i forget to take them to the dishwasher.

sorry to say, but i really like having a tv in our room {it is clearly not huge, but perfect for the mornings so that i can keep sleeping while the boys lay in bed and watch a kid show}

this poor little bird looks like he’s saying he wants out.

my first embroidery project. i love it. my love tries to hide it. not because he doesn’t like my embroidery, but because it is really small and apparently sort of annoying.

MY LIST OF STUFF TO DO TO THE BEDROOM:

1. hang a chandelier like this one

2. wallpaper the window wall with this gorgeous paper from caskata {it is not wallpaper, just flat gift wrap and appears to be out of production, which makes me sad … but i will find it}

3. purchase this sheet set from dwell studio. when i have $400 to spend on sheets.

4. hang more stuff on the walls.

suggestions?

……….

and our bathroom. this room needs lots of work. i DO NOT like the cabinets or lights or mirror or counter, for that matter. but i think the counter will stay. let’s call this the before shot. perhaps sometime soon i’ll get to the point where i’ll have an after.

nothing like finishing with a toilet.

flowers

there is nothing as wonderful as freshly cut garden flowers in beautiful white pitchers. i have just a teensy bit of flower arranging training, but it feels like art … composing the textures and colors and shapes that please my eye ... so i like to play around.

it is fun to walk around the garden and cut what strikes me as beautiful. then i pile up all the cuttings and sort through it to create my little arrangements.

and now, as i’m beginning to play with photography, it is fun to then photograph these beauties {and then play with settings}

full color

or sort of vintage-y faded color

perhaps someday i will have a gorgeous cutting garden, but for now, i will enjoy the bounty of my mother-in-law’s.

baby shower invite

since my sister is such a loving, thoughtful, unselfish sister
she asked me to create some baby shower invitations on the FIRST DAY OF MY VACATION!
{i'm just kidding, hillary. i was happy to do it. and i think they turned out so cute that i'll share it here, if you don't mind}

sweet little invitations for a sweet mommy-to-be.

one year old

my sweet little niece . i s a b e l l a. had her first birthday party this afternoon. my sister has been working like crazy on it and hosted an amazing party. i was able to help with some of the creative stuff {which i always love} and it was fun to make it extra special for baby {i mean toddler} isabella

the birthday girl {wearing the most adorable tutu made by my mom}

every birthday baby need a bib for the special occasion.
darling, isn't it?

and, as is tradition for all the grandchildren, my mom made the special birthday cake to be devoured by the i've-only-had-sugar-once-before-birthday-girl.

some might think she's saying 'all done'

but oh no. not this girl. she was loving that sugar.
{she's my kind of girl}

yummy food

even yummier sweets
{because what's a party without candy as the goodie bag?}

apparently these darling monogram shirts {for the boys} and flower pin shirts {for the girls} were not a good enough party favor {as explained by anna, age 7 and ethan, age 5 on two separate occasions} candy bags are a must at any party. just in case you didn't know.

party hats

the little sweetness with her new baby be blessed dolly

i think she likes her

the birthday girl and her mommy

ready for some birthday party swimming {in 62 weather}

rebecca, me, eric & amy {unintentional pattern makers that we are} enjoying celebrating our niece.

it was a great party with so many cute, creative and special details. good work, mike & hillary, on a party well-thrown and a baby well-made.

happy birthday isabella!